Wait For Me

Chapter 10 - The Wager

March 21st, 1930

Alastor looked down at the bloody heap below him, and then at his bloodied tie. The dead man wasn't part of the Mafia, but he put up one hell of a fight. The brunette had to deviate from his usual modus operandi of slashing his victim's neck with his hunting knife, and instead resorted to strangulation. Then he stabbed the dead body for good measure. This would probably throw off the police however, which honestly didn't bother him in the slightest. He knew he made the kill, and the green band on his wrist told him Lucifer knew as well. He couldn't care less if the cops did. It just allowed him even more freedom. In all honesty, as much as he thoroughly enjoyed reading about how he was an unnamed suspect linked to killing these heinous low-lives, perhaps he would switch up his M.O. every now and then, keep everyone on their toes. The resulting confusion would surely be entertaining.

He snapped his fingers and his shadow appeared, chittering gleefully at the dead body. "Take care of that will you? And then go back to the room for the day. I'll call you if I need you."

The shadow was already dragging the body to a different location before Alastor turned his back and left the abandoned building.

It was a bright and sunny day on the streets of New York. Alastor could even hear birds chirping amidst the noise of the city. It was the end of March, and the cold bite of winter was finally taking its leave. Spring was on its way in. Too bad Alastor wouldn't be here to experience it fully. Oh well. He had ten days left, and then he could go back to the place he missed oh-so-much. Of course, now he had a friend here, and he would most likely miss him once he went home. He also didn't mind this variety of warmer weather in the slightest. The sun was warm without being overbearing, and there was little to no humidity in the air. It was a pleasant change.

Speaking of. It was nearing noon, which meant Alastor needed to hurry back to his hotel and wash up before his friend met him there for lunch.

The last day or so, he had been thinking about what the blonde had said to him about being attractive, and chalked it up to the man just being kind. It didn't mean anything. It was easier to think about it that way, and plus, he didn't want to categorize his friend as something he wasn't. So, until he got further proof, he was going to continue on like he didn't get a weird fluttering sensation in his chest.

He had no idea what the plans for today were, so he put on his usual brown vest, flat cap, white button up, and brown trousers.

At noon exactly, he received a call to come down to the lobby. Well, he certainly is punctual, I'll give him that.

The hotel had several dozen stories, all of which had more or less the same repeating tan wallpaper and floral motifs, but it was ritzy in its own right. The stairs down to the lobby were massive, particularly on the second floor, and Alastor could picture a fancy event such as a wedding taking place there.

Seated on a chair in the lounge was a face Alastor had quickly come to recognize and despite himself, a warm smile rose to his face. "Angel!" he called out in greeting.

Anthony looked up at the voice, and felt the tension leave his body at the look on Al's face. He had been fearing that things between them would be strange or awkward after his thoughtless comment the other night. But the brunette looked genuinely happy to see him. Well. If he wanted to pretend it never happened, Anthony would too. He smiled back. "Heya Al! Swell day, ain't it?"

Alastor nodded and folded his hands behind his back while rocking up on his toes. "Indeed. I take it you have an activity for us involving this beautiful weather?"

The blonde gave him a coy look. "Well damn, ya know me." He laughed. "We sure is! I'm always stuck inside at work or in the house. I haven't been out and about this much since Pops left, and I wanna enjoy it while it lasts."